The College Counseling Mom Podcast: It’s Fine, I’m Fine, My Kid’s in High School.
Real talk and real guidance for parents raising college-ready teens — without the stress.
Host Lindsay Phillips, a school counselor turned college consultant (and mom who’s been there), helps families navigate high school and college prep with clarity, calm, and humor. Grab your coffee (or wine) and join Lindsay each week to make this season feel a little lighter and a lot more doable.
Episodes
26 episodes
Episode 25 | Spring Break, College Visits, and the Junior Year Moment Nobody Warns You
Spring break feels like a pause. But for junior families, it might be one of the most important weeks of the year — and most families do not realize it until they are standing on a campus somewhere thinking... wait. This just got real.Th...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 25
•
13:34
Why I'm Leaving School Counseling (And What the Broken System Has to Do With It)
After years inside the school counseling system, I have something to say that I have been sitting with for a while.At the end of this school year I am leaving school counseling. For good.Not because I stopped caring about students...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 24
•
20:29
Episode 23 | You've Done the Research. So Why Does It Still Feel Like Guessing?
It's ten o'clock at night. Your kid is asleep. You've got seventeen tabs open, a notes app full of school names and question marks, and somehow you feel more confused than when you started.Sound familiar?The problem isn't that you...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 23
•
16:58
The Application That Changed Everything (And Why We Almost Didn't Send It)
We almost didn't apply to the University of Alabama.It wasn't a serious contender. It was a strategy — rolling admissions, a near-guaranteed yes based on Jake's test scores, and a confidence boost before the real applications started.
•
Season 1
•
Episode 22
•
13:11
Episode 21 | From “I Want It to Feel Like Home” to a Strategic College List
What do you do when your teen says they want a college that “just feels right”?If you're a parent starting the college search process, you’ve probably heard answers like:“I just want it to feel like home.”“I want som...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 21
•
10:08
Episode 20 | Finding Colleges Beyond the Rankings: Where to Actually Look
Most families build their college list using U.S. News rankings and schools they've heard of—but that's not a real search strategy. There are hundreds of incredible colleges your teen will never discover if you don't know where to look.I...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 20
•
18:05
Episode 19 | The Common Data Set: Your Secret Weapon for College Research
If you've ever felt like colleges are keeping secrets about admissions—you're not wrong. But there's one document that levels the playing field, and most parents have no idea it exists.It's called the Common Data Set, and it's the closes...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 19
•
19:06
Episode 18 | What Colleges Actually Look For (And What Parents Can Stop Stressing About)
If you’re a parent staring at your high schooler’s transcript and wondering, “Are we doing this right?”—this episode is for you.Between course selection pressure and conflicting advice online, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by th...
•
23:17
Episode 17 | How to Know If a College Is a Good Fit: The Three-Fit Framework Every Family Needs
Choosing the right college can feel overwhelming — especially when families are told to trust their gut or wait for a “feeling” on a campus tour. But what if that feeling leads you to a school that isn’t affordable, supportive, or aligned with ...
•
13:07
Episode 16 | Prestige vs. Fit: Why Your Student’s “Dream School” Might Not Be the Right School
Choosing a college can feel overwhelming for parents and students — especially when deciding between a prestigious college and a school that’s actually the right fit. In this episode, a college admissions expert breaks down the di...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 16
•
13:04
Episode 15 | How to Find Colleges That Actually Give Merit Money (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)
What’s the point of a $2,000 scholarship on a $75,000 school? 🙃In this episode, college counselor and mom Lindsay breaks down how merit aid actually works, which schools give real money, and how families can av...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 15
•
18:21
Episode 14 | College Admissions Myths Junior Parents Need to Stop Believing
If you’re a parent of a high school junior, it probably feels like everyone has an opinion on what you should be doing right now — college visits, testing, extracurriculars, essays… all at once.And the unspoken message un...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 14
•
8:24
Episode 13 | The Junior Year Reset: How to Start the Second Half Without Panic
If you’re the parent of a high school junior and January feels like a wake-up call—you’re not alone.Winter break gave everyone a breather, but now the second semester of junior year is here, and suddenly college feels very real....
•
Season 1
•
Episode 13
•
11:52
Episode 12 | Standing in the Doorway: Alignment, Letting Go, and Parenting Through Change
The week between Christmas and New Year’s always feels different.The rush slows. The noise softens. And there’s finally space to reflect on the year that was—what went well, what changed unexpectedly, and what still hurts.In this ...
•
9:41
Episode 11 | Nothing Needs to Be Fixed Right Now: A Christmas Eve Message for Parents of Teens
This episode is for parents of teens — especially parents of high school seniors navigating college admissions decisions — who are feeling emotionally stretched during seasons of uncertainty.Whether your student is facing college rejecti...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 11
•
7:07
Episode 10: Decision Season Without Losing Perspective: Supporting Teens Through Acceptances, Deferrals, and Redirections
College decisions are starting to land—and for many families, this season feels heavy, emotional, and charged. Whether your teen is celebrating an acceptance, navigating a deferral, processing a rejection, or simply watching it all unfold from ...
•
9:54
Episode 9 | The Power of Small Wins: What Our Teens Need Us to See
In today’s episode, I’m sharing a moment from the Jasmine Star Business Mentorship community that sparked a powerful reflection on how we—and our teens—view progress. When someone vulnerably shared their struggle to celebrate small wins, I resp...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 9
•
9:52
Episode 8: Why Teens Feel “Off” Sometimes — And How to Support Them Without Overdoing It
If your teen has ever seemed “off” — quieter than usual, overwhelmed, irritable, or just drifting around the house with zero direction — you’re not imagining it. These dips are incredibly common, and today we’re breaking down exactly w...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 8
•
11:43
Episode 7: Parenting Teens During the Holidays: How to Stay Grounded in Gratitude
If you’re parenting a teen right now—whether they’re a freshman finding their footing or a senior preparing to leave the nest—you know this season is a swirl of emotions. Gratitude and heartache. Joy and overwhelm. Pride and the ache of watchin...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 7
•
11:19
Episode 6: What Financial Fit Means — and Why It Matters More Than Rankings
Episode 6: What Financial Fit Means — and Why It Matters More Than RankingsDescription: Your kid is amazing. They’ve worked hard, gotten the grades, and maybe even landed an acceptance at one of those gasp-worthy colleg...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 6
•
10:32
Episode 5: FAFSA, CSS, Merit Aid & Scholarships 101
Episode 5: FAFSA, CSS, Merit Aid & Scholarships 101Ever find yourself staring at a financial aid form at 11 PM wondering if you accidentally signed up for a second mortgage? Same. In this episode, we're breakin...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 5
•
10:39
Episode 3: How to Talk to Your Teen Without Nagging
There's a special tone only teenagers can pull off — that half-sigh, half-eye-roll combo that says, "Why are you like this?" It usually shows up right after you ask something like, "Did you turn that thing in?"You're not crazy. It really...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 3
•
9:39
Episode 4: Three Things I Regret with My Oldest
When my oldest left for college, I thought I was ready.I'd spent years helping other families through this process — I knew the forms, the timelines, the essays. What I didn't know was how it would feel when the checklist ended and the q...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 4
•
10:55
Episode 2: What Parents Ask Me Most About College
Every week, I hear the same questions from parents — in hallways, emails, and grocery-store aisles. And they always start with, "Okay, I know this is probably a dumb question, but…"Let me tell you right now: there are no dumb questions. ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 2
•
6:01
Episode 1: Why I Had to Start The College Counseling Mom Podcast
Most high school students get about ten minutes with their counselor to talk about their entire future. Ten minutes to figure out classes, careers, and sometimes who they even want to be.And it's not the counselor's fault. The ratios are...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 1
•
6:29